The Summerville City Council has abolished the building inspector’s position after a called meeting on Wednesday of this week.  That doesn’t mean that city residents don’t have to get a building permit. And it doesn’t mean that they won’t have to have the work done by a licensed contractor. And they will still have to get the work inspected; but they will have to hire their own inspector to do it.

After the resignation of the part-time building inspector the city government was still issuing building permits, but there was no one to do any final inspections.  City Council members tossed around several ideas about hiring another part-time inspector and even discussed the possibility of sharing an inspector with another municipality.  But in the end, with no clear consensus on how to move forward, the council voted to rescind a portion of the building inspector ordinance and establish some guidelines for going forward.

Building plans will need to be submitted still and building permits will still be required, but according to the new rules, the city will no longer be conducting building inspections.

Instead, the new regulations say, “All building, rehabilitation, renovation, and other construction requiring a permit will require an inspection by a third party to be paid for by the property owner. A report of said inspection must be submitted before a certificate of occupancy will be issued”.

See a complete copy of the new rules as adopted Wednesday by the Summerville City Council below:

 

STATE OF GEORGIA

COUNTY OF CHATTOOGA

A RESOLUTION TO SUSPEND THE OFFICE OF BUILDING OFFICIAL; PROVIDE FOR PROCEDURES IN LIEU OF BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR INSPECTIONS

 

WHEREAS, the City of Summerville (“City”) has a Code of Ordinances that provides for a Building Official; adoption of International Codes; procedures for the process of permitting, inspections, and other administration in Chapter 105 of the Code of Ordinances; and,

 

WHEREAS, the office of Building Official is vacant and is expected to remain vacant for a period of time, the Mayor and City Council find it necessary to suspend certain provisions of the Building Code, Chapter 105 of the Code of Ordinances and make provisions for the administration of the Building Code, permitting, inspections, and enforcement in lieu of a Building Official being in place;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby implements the following procedures in lieu of any conflicting procedure in Chapter 105 of the Code of Ordinances:

1. All construction will require the purchase of a permit from the clerk at City Hall and not the Building Official.

2. Each application for a residential permit must attach an appropriate plan or diagram if owner occupied at the time of the permit application along with all other requirements specific to the construction that the City may require. If a plan or diagram is not attached to the application, the application will be considered incomplete until the plan or diagram is received. No permit will be issued for any incomplete application. All applications shall comply with Georgia law as to license requirements for construction in Georgia.

3. The City will no longer conduct residential inspections.

4. All work for residential buildings within the City shall be performed by a licensed contractor for residential buildings. The intent is to follow the requirements for licensed building contractors as required by Georgia law.

5. For any non-owner-occupied residential and commercial buildings, applications for permit will require sealed drawings.

6. All building, rehabilitation, renovation, and other construction requiring a permit will require an inspection by a third party to be paid for by the property owner. A report of said inspection must be submitted before a certificate of occupancy will be issued.

7. Provisions of the International Property Maintenance Code requiring inspection and enforcement by the Building Official are hereby temporarily suspended until further notice.

8. The provisions requiring inspection and enforcement of the following codes: International Building Code.

1. International Fuel Gas Code;

2. International Mechanical Code;

3. International Plumbing Code;

4. National Electrical Code;

5. International Fire Code;

6. International Energy Conservation Code;

7. International Residential Code.

Shall remain in full force and effect and the owner, contractor or licensed professional required for the construction shall be required to provide certification of adherence to these codes prior to a certificate of occupancy being issued.

9. Any provision of the Code not suspended by this Resolution will remain in full force and effect.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED, this 26th day of June, 2024.